I apologize for not having paid some worthwhile visits lately. It's part and parcel of my life to shift on overdrive intermittently. Frequently, rather. I used to hate it, but now, I am so much less unperturbed. It comes with practice. I am currently on my lunch break, writing this in between generous bites of pollo quesadilla that hubby picked up for me last night, or the other way around. And in a biological point viewpoint, have just received a booster shot of epinephrine from my adrenal gland's old reliable medulla.  Pardon my jargon, but stress leaves me when I play on that level.

Our hula show is going to be on May 2nd and I am occupied with rehearsals, dress rehearsals, photo shoots, selling tickets, finalizing costumes to the nitty gritty details. I make it sound so big, don't I? It is serious business if it's something you are very passionate about, no matter how mundane it might be.

Besides, why do things half-baked?

It is a challenge because general rehearsal week happens to fall on hubby's big 4-0 birthday week, something he has so looked forward to for one whole year. I wanted to spend my time with him but I am ending up spreading myself thinly due to the hula practices, coming home late, and impersonating a miserable zombie who pretends to be a normal person until caught offguard (doing Michael Jackson's famous thriller jerks).

We are ordering takeouts for dinner, taking clothes off the hamper because I haven't folded them, and looking for the floor because it had been missing for days -- hiding underneath layers of clutter and gunk. I'm exaggerating, my home isn't that filthy. But the laundry issue is true. I hope to catch up tonight but we have practices until around 9pm. I wanted to have dinner with hubby but it is so much more practical for me to head to the studio's direction than come back home.  Good thing he will be preoccupied with adjusting our satellite dish and configuring the TV downstairs.  Yes, the whole Satellite TV issue hasn't been resolved after 50 million years of trial and error  and blogging about it for the longest time --did you seriously think I was doing it just for the sake of blog advertising?

Speaking of which, a lot of opportunities for paid articles expired on me too. Where can I buy extra 6 hours of time each day? That will be good business, a day-booster pack? Where you can buy extra 3 hours or 6 to extend your day and accomplish all your stuff. That will be the day.

But just as I said, I am unperturbed compared to how I've managed in the past. Practice makes perfect.

I also made a big decision to quit HALF the dancing. I am no longer dancing tahitian beginning this month so that is one hour less for classes. Hubby does not want me to give up hula since he knows that the art makes me happy and I need it for exercise anyway. Perhaps, he's also proud of me.  I will probably be performing less too. But that will depend on the event or show that's happening. I just recently added three very beautiful costumes to my collection and we might have to put that to good use and milk the life out of. We'll see.

Hubby being very persnickety about his 4-0 bash isn't helping. I didn't and couldn't come up with a birthday surprise either. I want to kick myself for shortchanging the special occasion but since hubby had been initially vocal about his wishes at first, I wanted to make things happen the way he wanted it. To cut to the chase, we are left with less than 24 hours to decide because his birthday's tomorrow! Good thing we do not have hula practice tomorrow (lucky a$$~!), but I will not miss his special day for the world. I will drop everything if he wants me to. But though he would flinch and frown at times, especially on the late hours, he lets me go on. He lets me be me even if it required some sacrifice from his end. That is exactly why I want his birthday to be extra special. How do I tell this man how grateful I am???

THE HOME STRETCH:

Tonight...I'm shooting out to South Shore to pick up some groceries, call my parents in the Philippines on my cellphone to catch up with them while I eat a quick dinner somewhere, and hopefully figure something out that's within proximate distance. I did save a significant amount for hubby's birthday presents. I will visit the closest craft/party store to pick up some balloons and some birthday doodads. And then dance the night away.

Thursday night (tomorrow)...We will definitely go out for dinner. He did say something about lobster. Please keep your fingers crossed that I will be able to dress up and do my hair and look extra special and hot on his special day, even if inside, I am a snuffed-out candle hanging on to the last threads of my frayed immune system. My allergies have been acting up, my nose is runny, and I am forever carrying a shroud of fog around my head anywhere I go. It's anchored to my sinuses. I hope I haven't gone down with the Swine Flu by tomorrow.

Late Thursday night...come home...make sure to treat him extra special , if not knock him out   LOL. And so I can then ninja-crawl my way to the other room to steam-iron my costumes. One skirt alone is made up of 5 yards of fabric and I'm not saying that just for the sake of literary flair.

Friday...work...night...tech rehearsal. Leave all costumes at the studio.

Late Friday night...see what hubby's up to. Midnight...take a shower, clean my toes, braid my hair (hula hair is supposed to be poofy and frizzy and mine is as straight as a bunch of kebab sticks),  pack all show essentials...

Saturday noon...performance. Dedicate it to the man who wasn't fed properly (didn't feel as loved?) during this whole shebang.

Saturday night...if everything pans out as hoped, including hubby's attempt to resuscitate our satellite dish signals (we have two and both have decided to act up on the wrong time like two spoiled brats), we will have some friends and family over to watch the Paquiao Boxing match at home. Over some barbecue and beer.

My big little boy will have a 40th birthday party after all.

And I will sleep soundly on Sunday.

With a little patience, we'll get there. We always do.